Sign Up title

Sign Up form

Header Social Links

Top banner text

Thank you for your support!

Roy has been focused on bringing more jobs and less government to Missouri - by improving healthcare and lowering costs, decreasing the burden of high energy taxes, and standing up to the liberal amnesty agenda.

Top promo boxes

Blunt Brigade

Meet Roy

A fifth generation Missourian, Roy Blunt was born in a doctor’s office in Niangua, Missouri. His mom and dad were dairy farmers in Southwest Missouri and taught him the intrinsic value of a day’s hard work. These values helped him become the first in his family to graduate from college.

Latest from Team Roy

"I have repeatedly said that Secretary Clinton did not take her national security responsibilities seriously, and I continue to have serious concerns about the FBI's handling of this case.

"This was rushed work, which the FBI has clearly botched. From the special treatment for Hillary Clinton's aides to the destruction of evidence and inappropriate side bargains, this investigation was a failure.

"Hillary Clinton put our national security at risk by making up her own rules as she went along. The federal government keeps failing at its most basic duties, and it's time for a new direction.

"Missourians are frustrated. This frustration will not be cured by sending Clinton national co-chair Jason Kander to the United States Senate; his vision for the future is to serve as a rubber stamp for her liberal agenda.

"I've been fighting for change every day I've been in the Senate and will continue to fight against the Clinton-Kander agenda and for Missouri families."

# # #

Blunt Campaign Launches "The Choice"

Blunt Campaign Launches "The Choice"

(Columbia, Mo) — Friends of Roy Blunt has launched "The Choice," a statewide TV ad reminding Missourians that Jason Kander is in lockstep with Hillary Clinton and out of step with Missouri on every issue from ObamaCare to utility prices.

"The Clinton-Kander agenda is more of the same and bad for Missouri families," Blunt says. "Like ObamaCare: with Clinton-Kander, prices keep going up; choices keep going down."

"On issues from Obamacare to job-killing energy taxes, Jason Kander supports Hillary Clinton's agenda," said Blunt spokesman Tate O'Connor. "When it comes to the United States Senate, Missourians know what matters, and Jason Kander's extreme positions are completely out of touch with Missouri views and values."

# # #

Sikeston Standard Democrat (Editorial): Blunt’s election will maintain the balance of power in Capitol

I honestly try not to watch too many polls because I find many to be highly suspect and I am convinced some polls are designed purely to move voters instead of accurately gauging voter sentiments.

That being said, the most current reading in Missouri gives Donald Trump a comfortable - though not overwhelming - lead in our state. I see no reason that trend will not continue and Missouri will cast its electoral votes for Trump.

But I am somewhat surprised that incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt is in a much tighter race with his Democratic opponent Jason Kander.

Blunt has served the state of Missouri admirably and his seniority in the Senate is a definite plus for our state.

I have had disagreements with the senator in the past and took him to task when he helped fund a GOP candidate against one of his conservative fellow senators.

But that aside, Blunt deserves our vote.

There is another factor and perhaps equally as important why we should send Roy Blunt back to Washington.

Should Hillary Clinton win on Nov. 8, it is critical on so many levels that the House and Senate remain in Republican control.

Without that all-important check and balance, a Clinton presidency could push through a liberal agenda that would wreck our economy and threaten our sovereignty.

Like millions of Americans, I don’t trust Clinton. And there’s ample reasons for that distrust.

If Clinton wins, an enormous responsibility will fall on the Legislature to counter her progressive agenda which includes open borders and runaway spending.

It appears that the Senate makeup is in doubt with just a short time remaining in this election process. A switch of just four Senate seats would potentially return Harry Reid to a position of power.

Few things in the political arena are as frightening as a Reid-controlled Senate and a Clinton White House.

Democrats on the national level have targeted Missouri as a potential loss for the GOP in the Senate. They know the critical importance of this seat. Perhaps they even know better than Missourians on how important this Senate election may well be.

Let’s return Roy Blunt to the Senate and urge him to fight for the interests of our state with a passion and drive that will make a difference.

Blunt could very well be a voice of restraint on spending and a key vote to protect this great nation.

Kander is a fine candidate and a good man. But this election is critical far beyond our small state and only Blunt and the GOP can hold the line against the massive swing to the left promised by a Clinton presidency.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt has been a fixture in Missouri politics for more than 30 years. His experience and knowledge gained during his time as secretary of state, congressman and senator would be considered assets in most election years.

But it is his lengthy tenure in Washington — nearly 20 years — that could be Blunt’s greatest vulnerability in a year when being an outsider has been valuable for challengers.

Democrat Jason Kander has hammered Blunt relentlessly for what allegedly has happened to Blunt after 20 years in Washington. Kander claims Blunt has lost touch with Missouri’s values, has become too close to Washington insiders, and by working the system to his own advantage is far removed from the reform-minded southwest Missourian who earned praise from Democrats and Republicans for his work as secretary of state.

Kander is an energetic challenger. With his impressive military record, eight years ago he won a state representative seat in Kansas City and then, in what appeared to be a brash move at the time, he sought the office of secretary of state that he won four years ago. It was considered unrealistic two years ago when Kander decided to take on the veteran Blunt. But in a chaotic election year, Kander’s lack of Washington experience has given him strong momentum.

Kander is in a hurry, and he will go places. But he has not demonstrated he deserves to go to Washington now instead of Blunt.

We have disagreed with Blunt on issues in the past, but each election should involve comparing the overall record of each candidate against the other. In this case, Blunt’s accomplishments outweigh the challenger’s promise.

Blunt knows how to get things done. And he does them for the benefit of the Missourians he represents.

Blunt crafted key sections of that bill that will pay for off-system bridges, which describes 52 percent of Missouri’s spans. Other Blunt provisions would reform the permitting process for rail projects, encourage more competition in passenger rail service, and in a bill co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri, provide for reliability of the electric power grid.

Blunt and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio co-sponsored the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act in 2013. The measure establishes a Network for Manufacturing Innovation and will assist Missouri manufacturing companies.

Blunt and Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, co-sponsored the Victims of Child Abuse Reauthorization Act in 2013. This law restores funding to provide a safe haven for child abuse victims and help law enforcement hold perpetrators accountable. There are 22 Child Advocacy Centers in Missouri that will be helped by this initiative.

Blunt and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, co-sponsored the Excellence in Mental Health Act to expand access to community mental health services and strengthen the quality of care for those living with mental illness. The bill, supported by more than 50 mental health, veterans and law enforcement organizations, marks the most significant progress in the field in decades.

Blunt introduced the bipartisan Hire More Heroes Act, which eliminates federal red tape while encouraging companies to hire more American veterans. Blunt, who has received the Veterans of Foreign Wars lifetime achievement award, is a member of the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which is committed to helping veterans find well-paying jobs as civilians.

Blunt and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, gained Senate passage of the Military Family Stability Act, which permits military families to move early or remain at their current duty station for up to six months while their spouse begins a new assignment.

Blunt gained a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health this fiscal year, the largest funding increase in more than 10 years. Blunt has proposed an additional $2 billion increase in the pending 2017 bill.

Blunt included provisions in the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act to authorize allocation of $3.5 billion of new markets tax credits for each year from 2015 through 2019. This program encourages private investment in low-income rural and urban areas and helped create nearly 18,000 Missouri jobs between 2003 and 2012.

Blunt joined Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Stabenow in introducing the Charitable Agricultural Research Act to encourage the creation of public-private partnerships to increase overall agricultural research funding and encourage innovation.

Blunt worked across the aisle, and with House members, to gain passage of the Water Resources Development Act that authorizes flood control and other water infrastructure projects across the country. That act will pour millions of dollars into Missouri for high-paying jobs as crucial infrastructure is built or refurbished.

This year, with his campaign looming and partisan sensitivities on high alert all over Capitol Hill, Blunt successfully negotiated federal authorization for a $1.1 billion expenditure to combat the Zika virus.

Blunt cosponsored the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to combat the opioid epidemic. He secured a 93 percent increase this year in the bipartisan funding bill for programs that increased resources for prescription drug overdose programs, medication-assisted treatment and treatment programs through 9,000 community health delivery sites nationwide.

For years, Blunt worked with prominent Democrats seeking to ensure that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency decided to build it new west headquarters in North St. Louis, instead of in Illinois. That decision kept thousands of jobs the agency supports in Missouri and promises to help revitalize that urban area.

Republicans generally don’t win many votes in urban centers, but African-American ministers are cutting radio endorsements of Blunt in both Kansas City and St. Louis. In Kansas City, the Rev. John Modest Miles praises Blunt’s assistance with funding for the $3.6 million Morningstar Youth and Family Life Center at 27th Street and Prospect Avenue. Miles also credits Blunt for working with city leaders in placing the Kansas City Police Department’s new East Patrol Division and crime lab near Prospect Avenue and East 27th Street.

For the six years he has been in the Senate, Blunt has been in the Kansas City community working to bring in jobs and help attract funding for development, Miles says.

The Rev. Charles J. Brown in St. Louis praises Blunt for working across party lines to help keep the Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis. Brown says Blunt’s work to increase funding for mental health and trying to keep utility bills down merit re-election.

Blunt is undeniably conservative. On such issues as opposing abortion, supporting gun rights, seeking lower taxes and opposing the Affordable Care Act, he has been in tune with the majority of Missourians over the last few years.

But at heart, Blunt is a problem-solver. And in a Washington where far too many things end up in partisan gridlock, Blunt has a record of finding workable solutions that can be embraced by people with different backgrounds and persuasions.

Contrary to the heated rhetoric of the campaign, he has not forgotten his roots. He has traveled to all 114 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis at least three times and many places multiple times since he first ran for this Senate seat. He has held more than 1,600 separate events in the state, and not just in an election year.

He listens to Missourians, and he translates their concerns into concrete solutions.

(Columbia, Mo) — Roy Blunt today issued the following statement after calling on Jason Kander to step down as a co-chair on Hillary Clinton's national campaign in light of the FBI reopening its investigation:

"Yesterday Jason Kander said Secretary Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified national security information was a 'mistake'. If he truly believes she didn’t handle her national security responsibilities properly, he should immediately return the $500,000 donation Hillary Clinton recently sent to Missouri to help his campaign."

MISSOURI VOTERS could likely determine control of the U.S. Senate when they cast their ballots Nov. 8.

Republicans now have a 54-46 majority, but Missouri is one of six states that have emerged as top battlegrounds that could decide whether Democrats can gain control. Democrats must pick up five seats to accomplish that, or four if they win the White House, because the vice president casts tie-breaking votes in the Senate.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Roy Blunt is locked into a surprisingly close contest with Democrat Jason Kander, Missouri's secretary of state, an impressive candidate who has tapped into an anti-Washington fervor in this election cycle.

However, experience and judgment should be viewed in a positive light when deciding who can best speak for Missouri in the U.S. Senate. Blunt is the clear choice for those who seek a strong and seasoned advocate, and we commend him to voters.

Blunt was a member of the U.S. House for 14 years before being elected to the Senate in 2010. He previously was Missouri secretary of state for two terms and spent 12 years as Greene County clerk. During those years in government, and as the former president of Southwest Baptist University, Blunt has demonstrated the ability to lead on issues that resonate with Missourians.

Blunt understands that Missouri's central location, with several major highways crisscrossing a state flanked by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, creates huge, still untapped economic opportunities as a transportation and agricultural hub.

He has been a strong proponent of national transportation funding and priorities for Northeast Missouri. While Congress passed a five-year federal highway bill last year, he realizes the $305 billion funding level falls well short of what is necessary to adequately address the nation's infrastructure needs, and he continues to explore additional revenue sources.

Moreover, Blunt has advocated for more funding for rivers, inland ports and modernizing locks and dams, arguing that Missouri needs to take advantage of "markets that are naturally ours" with the expansion of the Panama Canal and improvements to the Port of New Orleans. He points out that world food demand is rising at such a rate that it is expected to double in the next 50 years.

Furthermore, Blunt continues to call for smaller government with fewer federal regulations to foster the business growth he says is needed to drive the U.S. economy. Reining in costs for health care and college education, issues that affect everyday families, continues to be among his priorities.

He has been an advocate for farmers in Missouri and nationwide by working to block a rule that would allow the Environmental Protection Agency to assume regulatory control over most streams, wetlands and other waters. He opposes the clean-power plan that he says will double monthly utility bills for Missourians.

In addition, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, Blunt has worked across party lines to increase federal funding to address the national opioid epidemic.

"Compromise is the essence of democracy," he told our editorial board.

Blunt also supports bipartisan efforts to expand Pell Grant availability to students year-round. He has successfully worked to increase federal funding for health research, particularly Alzheimer's disease, and for better treatment for those facing mental health issues.

"One in four Americans has a treatable mental health issue, and one in nine are dealing with a mental health issue that affects how they live every day," he said. "We need to treat this like all other health issues."

The 35-year-old Kander enlisted in the Army National Guard while in law school immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and later served as an intelligence officer for four months in Afghanistan. He was elected to the first of two terms in the Missouri House in 2008 and as secretary of state in 2012.

He has focused much of his campaign on improving the national conversation in Washington, D.C., a place he says is "broken in a lot of ways." He told our editorial board he will be "dedicated to ideals rather than ideology" to help break the gridlock in Congress, a stance we commend him for.

Kander and Blunt agree on many issues. Both oppose the Iranian nuclear deal and the rule that would allow the EPA to assume regulatory control over most streams, wetlands and other waters. Both support a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget and want to reduce unnecessary regulations. Both want to cut the cost of a college education, and both say they have a pro-business agenda to address job growth and stagnant wages, particularly in rural Missouri.

However, they differ on issues such as immigration, the Afford­able Care Act, campaign financing reform and abortion. While Blunt has served in leadership positions in both the U.S. House and Senate, Kander has not had the opportunity to compile a legisla­tive résumé of such depth.

Most important, Missourians must realize the votes they cast will be pivotal in determining which party controls the agenda for the U.S. Senate for the next two years.

We believe Missouri, and the nation, would be best served by the invaluable experience and steady leadership of Roy Blunt in the U.S. Senate.

Missouri’s U.S. Senate race has taken on a political ad life of its own. So much, that at times we recognize neither the incumbent Republican Roy Blunt nor his Democratic challenger Jason Kander, our current secretary of state.

It’s a tight race. Earlier this week, it was pronounced a toss-up by two Washington polls. As voters contemplate their choice, we recommend they set aside the attack ads and the polls and use institutional memory and results. Blunt, who served the 7th District well as a U.S. representative, played a large role in legislation that made a difference in Southwest Missouri. In the past six years as a senator, it is clear he has not forgotten us.

Here are just a few ways he has watched out for his constituents:

Blunt helped negotiate across the aisle and deliver a five-year highway bill that authorizes $305 billion for our nation’s federal highway, transit, safety, hazardous materials and passenger rail programs, including more than $5.5 billion for the state of Missouri. Its passage in December of 2015 was heralded as a major coup. It was the first time a long-term, fully funded highway and transit bill was passed by Congress since George W. Bush was in the White House.

He prepared a measure that restored year-round Pell grants that help lower-income students pay for their college education. More than 50 percent of the students at MSSU qualify for Pell grants, and that number increases to more than 60 percent at Crowder College. The grants were available only for students attending classes in the fall and the spring. Blunt told us the year-round grants existed until 2008 and were restored by Congress after being recommended by a Senate subcommittee that he chairs.

In the months following the 2011 Joplin tornado, Sen. Blunt helped get an amendment into the 2012 appropriations bill that added $400 million to the Community Development Block Grant program in order to aid disaster relief efforts. The provision was successfully passed into law in November 2011. Out of that amount, the city of Joplin received $45.2 million in CDBG funds.

Blunt has always been a friend to Southwest Missouri farmers. That didn’t change when he became a senator. He worked across the aisle in introducing a bill to support agricultural research by encouraging the creation of public-private partnerships to increase overall funding and spur innovation. Blunt has told us that investing in the future of agriculture and the safety and security of our food supply is one of the best investments America can make.

...

In these most uncertain times, The Joplin Globe’s editorial board recommends keeping Blunt, along with his experience and leadership, in Congress.

Republican Sen. Roy Blunt is being challenged for re-election by Democrat Secretary of State Jason Kander. Sen. Blunt is a seasoned member of Congress who knows Missouri like his backyard. Kander served in the Missouri General Assembly before being elected to his first term as secretary of state.

Before being elected to his first term in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Blunt served in the U.S. House, representing his home district in the Springfield area, and has experience as a history teacher, county official, and in 1984 he became the first Republican to be elected as Missouri’s secretary of state in more than 50 years. He also was president of Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater. He has a master’s degree in history from Missouri State University.

His experience in government is impressive. Sen. Blunt had leadership roles in the House and is a leader in the Senate, serving on important committees, such as Appropriations, Commerce, Science and Transportation, Rules and Administration, and is chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence. He is a quiet leader in Congress, that is, he’s not the type who makes a big splash to gain publicity. He is a key player in the Senate.

The one trait we admire in him is that his method of serving in Congress is bipartisan, especially when it comes to issues affecting Missouri. He and Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, work together on matters concerning Missouri. Bipartisanship is sadly missing in Congress today, but not because of Sen. Blunt.

We respect his government service and we feel comfortable with him representing us. He understands local government, and above all, he knows Missouri, its issues and its people. He is steady on the right course, not flashy, but gets things done. He is respected by his colleagues.

Sen. Blunt is a force in the Senate and Missourians need to give him another six years in Congress. He is in a position to do much more for the state than a newcomer. It would take many years for a newcomer to attain the clout Sen. Blunt has. His cloak of experience is something Missouri needs to retain.

We urge all Missourians to vote to keep Sen. Blunt in the U.S. Senate.

Three years ago, President Obama hailed the start of the Obamacare exchanges as a “life-changing” opportunity for Americans. Life has changed for Missouri families under this disaster of a law, but it is a far cry from what the president promised.

When President Obama rammed his health care law through Congress, without a single Republican vote, he repeatedly assured Americans they would be able to keep the plans and doctors they liked and could afford. By the end of 2013, at least 4.7 million Americans had their plans canceled because they did not meet the law’s mandatory requirements.

Since that time, several insurers have pulled out of the Obamacare exchanges in Missouri, significantly narrowing health plan options for individuals and families required to purchase insurance under the law. Last month was the deadline for insurance companies to indicate whether or not they’ll offer plans on the Obamacare exchanges, yet the Department of Health and Human Services has refused to release that information, leaving Missouri families unclear about what their options and rates will be next year.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, an estimated 85 percent of Missouri counties will have only one Obamacare marketplace insurer when open enrollment begins on November 1. Based on that report and conversations I’ve had with my constituents, it could be even worse — leaving only 11 counties in Missouri (including the City of St. Louis) with more than one option of health insurers on the Obamacare exchanges. This is in stark contrast to the options Missourians had for this year, where every county had at least three insurers participating in the exchanges. In light of these drastic reductions, I have written to HHS Secretary Burwell demanding this information be released before the enrollment date so that Missourians who are losing their current health plans have the opportunity to secure coverage and plan for the future.

In a last ditch effort to stop insurance companies from fleeing the exchanges, the Obama administration has reportedly offered them a several billion dollar taxpayer-funded payout. This is in addition to the illegal payments the Obama administration is already making to insurance companies to prop up the exchanges, according to the non-partisan Government Accountability Office. Families work hard to earn a living, and they shouldn’t be on the hook for an Obamacare bailout — especially when they’re already paying a steep price for this law.

Despite the president’s promise to “bend the cost curve,” health insurers in our state are set to increase prices again next year, with some submitting rate hikes as high as a 34 percent increase. In my letter to Secretary Burwell, I have also asked that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services release information on the rate hikes they’ve approved so that families know what additional costs they’re facing because of this law. And these rate hikes are on top of the skyrocketing deductibles families have to meet before they’re even able to use their insurance.

This year, the average deductible for a middle-tier, or silver, health plan on the Obamacare exchange was over $3,000. The average deductible for a bronze plan topped $5,000. To make matters worse, those who aren’t able to afford the few options available to them on the Obamacare exchanges will face up to a $2,045 penalty next year.

Missourians shouldn’t be penalized for the president’s failure to live up to his promises. That’s why I’ve cosponsored two bills that would exempt individuals and families from the penalty if their county has either one insurance provider or none at all, or if their premiums have increased by more than 10 percent. These two bills would provide an important stopgap to protect families from the fallout of Obamacare, but there’s much more that should be done to ensure access to quality, affordable health care.

For example, I believe we should expand and reform high-risk pools to provide insurance options for people with pre-existing conditions.

I’ve also backed legislation that would allow Missourians to put more of their pre-tax dollars into portable health savings accounts and use those funds to pay their premiums. Expanding health savings accounts would make health care more affordable now and easier to plan for in the future.

I support efforts to allow small businesses to pool together to purchase coverage for their employees. Small businesses pay, on average, eight to 18 percent more for employee health plans than large employers. Allowing small businesses to pool together would help close the gap between what they pay and the rates that unions and large corporations are able to secure.

We can also bring down the cost of insurance by allowing families to purchase plans across state lines. Doing so would increase competition and enable families to shop for the plans that best fit their needs and budgets.

All of these solutions would go a long way toward creating a health care system that better addresses the needs of hardworking families, without imposing costly new mandates and tax hikes.

Although this newspaper has had a policy of NOT endorsing political candidates, but that does not prevent my column from doing that, especially this year.

The confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court candidates is one of the major issues at stake, for two or more judges will be nominated by the next President of the United States.

The current court is basically split 4-to-4 with too many recent decisions decided by philosophic interpretation rather than ruling on the laws' meaning.

President Obama has already been making executive orders that bypass Congress such as international treaties, wage and hour laws, national health insurance, recognition of Cuba, closing Gitmo, forcing coal out of existence, the Iran nuclear deal, etc.

Senator Roy Blunt could be the deciding vote on which party controls the U.S. Senate and the future of many such decisions.

Blunt is reportedly one of only two Congressional legislators who have held leadership roles in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

He has helped pass many bills with Democratic co-sponsors in both the House and Senate with his bi-partisan ability to work across the aisles.

Blunt has endorsements from the NRA, National Federation of Independence Business, Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Farm Bureau and every commodity group in Missouri.

He keeps in touch with Missourians having visited every county in Missouri at least three times in the last six years and even more than that in Cape Girardeau County.

Ports -- Senator Blunt has been a strong supporter of ports on the Mississippi River, including the assistance in helping the Cape Girardeau Port be regularly dredged.

He's active as a leadership role in dealing with domestic and foreign issues.

Blunt serves on numerous committees including the most important appropriations committee, which will deal with the United States financial deterioration.

Other Committee assignments

* Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and related agencies.

Blunt Campaign Launches "Clinton Cash"

(Columbia, Mo) — Friends of Roy Blunt today launched the latest television ad, "Clinton Cash," reminding Missourians that Jason Kander is in lockstep with Hillary Clinton and out of step with Missouri, and Clinton is rewarding him for that support with a major campaign investment of $500,000.

"When Hillary Clinton went shopping for help with her liberal agenda, her first stop was Jason Kander's headquarters," the ad says. "Clinton just gave half a million dollars to help Kander."

"On issues from Obamacare to confirming liberal judges, Hillary Clinton's national millennials co-chair, Jason Kander, is the only one in this race who is 'with her,'" said Blunt spokesman Tate O'Connor. "When it comes to the United States Senate, Missourians know what matters, and Jason Kander's extreme positions on Second Amendment rights, amnesty, Obamacare, and so much more are completely out of touch with Missouri views and values."

(Columbia, Mo) — Friends of Roy Blunt today launched its “Obamacare” spot, highlighting one of the clearest choices in this election.

Roy Blunt reminds Missourians of the impact of Obamacare on families and job creators across the state, saying: “Jason Kander follows the Hillary Clinton liberal agenda to expand Obamacare, and that will only make these problems worse.”

“I’ll fight for change so healthcare is truly affordable and available,” Blunt concludes.

Roy Blunt has been a vocal opponent of Obamacare, supporting instead common sense health care solutions like buying insurance across state lines, small business pools, and meaningful medical liability reform.

Jason Kander supports Hillary Clinton’s expansion of Obamacare. When Missouri was the first state in the nation to go to the polls and reject Obamacare, Kander was penning letters to President Obama and Democratic Congressional leaders imploring them to push harder for a public plan. He then repeatedly voted against resolutions to urge Missouri’s Congressional delegation to oppose Obama’s big healthcare takeover.

An estimated 85 percent of Missouri counties could have only one Obamacare marketplace insurer next year, compared to two percent this year, significantly narrowing health care options for individuals and families required to purchase insurance under the law or face a penalty. (Kaiser Family Foundation, 8/28/16)

Missouri health insurers are set to increase prices again next year, with some submitting rate hikes as high as a 34 percent increase. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/7/16)

“At least 1.4 million people in 32 states will lose the Obamacare plan they have now, according to state officials contacted by Bloomberg.” (Bloomberg, 10/14/16)

This year, the average deductible for a middle-tier, or silver, health plan on the Obamacare exchange was over $3,000. The average deductible for a bronze plan topped $5,000. (HealthPocket, 11/2/15)

# # #

Springfield News-Leader (Letter to the Editor): Roy Blunt is a man of integrity

With the harsh reality of the world we face, we are naturally disgruntled with Washington. And oftentimes we find ease in attributing that disappointment to our current leaders — a sentiment I have also shared. Yet, more than ever, we must not allow our frustrations to cause us to abandon the worth of those leaders; rather, we should embrace those leaders and the principles they have so diligently pursued.

Having the opportunity to know Roy Blunt for 43 years, with confidence I can tell you Roy is a man of integrity, ability and good conscience. Without the experience and ability to lead in Washington, Jason Kander will merely prove to be an ineffective representative for Missouri. Kander is seeking your vote based upon a message born of fear that we must eliminate the leaders who have consistently embraced the beliefs of Missourians. While we may be unhappy with Washington, we should not disregard the leaders who have always made America great.

Missourians chose well when they elected Republican Roy Blunt to the U.S. Senate in 2010.

That 14-point victory over Democrat Robin Carnahan was affirmation of Blunt’s standing with voters who previously had seen fit to elect him twice as secretary of state and give him seven terms in the U.S. House.

In his six years as a senator, Blunt repeatedly has rewarded voters for their confidence in him. His conservative credentials remain without question. At the same time, he has been among the most effective legislators in working across party lines to solve problems important to the country and our region.

We endorse Blunt for re-election on Nov. 8 based on his extensive record of leadership and service. His chief challenger, Democrat Jason Kander, trails in both areas and would pursue a clearly more liberal agenda.

Among Blunt’s significant contributions:

■ He was a leader in securing the first $2 million in federal funding needed to begin the long-awaited repairs to the Missouri River levees protecting South St. Joseph, Elwood, Kansas, and the Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport. When complete, the federal share of the project will total nearly $46 million.

■ He helped secure an additional $120 million in military spending for upgrades to the nation’s C-130 fleet. Some of those aircraft will be stationed at Rosecrans.

■ He has advocated for repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act — Obamacare — and co-sponsored legislation that would block funding for the Department of Homeland Security to implement President Obama’s immigration policy.

■ He has said regulations at times are needed, but co-sponsored legislation requiring a congressional vote on any regulation that would have significant economic impact. He has opposed an expansion of existing background checks for gun purchases.

■ He has spoken eloquently about the potential for a global boom in demand for food products and agricultural commodities, and the need for our region to be ready to meet the demands of these markets. He also has advocated for increased transportation funding, fewer restrictions on use of coal for electric power, and an open mind on trade agreements that could benefit the state and country.

■ He has promoted investments in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and the science behind biotechnology. He also has backed improvements in mental health care and aid to military families.

■ He has supported a balanced budget amendment that would require a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress to raise taxes or exceed spending limits, and a three-fifths vote to raise the federal debt limit.

Blunt already was an accomplished public servant, including a time as a college president in Southwest Missouri, when he joined the Senate. Far from a liability, his life experiences and knowledge of how the capital works have contributed to his effectiveness.

It also should be noted few elected officials have worked so tirelessly to stay in touch with constituents in their home state. Blunt reports he has visited all 114 counties in Missouri at least three times since 2009, and he has made about 50 visits to St. Joseph over the last five years.

Roy Blunt Raises Nearly $3 Million in Third Quarter Haul

(Columbia, Mo) — Friends of Roy Blunt today reported raising almost $3 million in the third quarter of 2016, which ended on September 30.

The Blunt effort raised more than $1.8 million for the campaign, and the Missouri Republican Party federal account raised over $1 million this quarter.

Friends of Roy Blunt raised over $14.6 million this election cycle so far and has over $4 million cash on hand.

“The Blunt Brigade just keeps stepping up because they know what is at stake,” said campaign manager Andy Blunt. "No one works harder for Missouri than Roy Blunt, and we have the resources we need to tell that story and help him keep delivering for Missouri in the U.S. Senate.

“There’s no doubt that the national liberal elites will keep stepping up for their hand-picked candidate, Jason Kander, because they know he supports their agenda of expanding ObamaCare, raising energy taxes, confirming liberal judges, and granting amnesty for illegal immigrants. Roy Blunt knows these are the very policies that put us on the wrong track in the first place and would just be more of the same. We’ll continue working to remind Missourians of exactly what is on the line on Election Day.”

Blunt Campaign Releases “Shawn” Ad,Tells Story of Roy Blunt’s Work to Protect Jobs

Featuring Shawn Intagliata of Arnold, “Shawn” explains Roy Blunt’s unique focus on navigating federal bureaucracy, fighting for the jobs at Unico, and following through until the issue was resolved.Intagliata, Director of Sales at Unico, says: “Senator Blunt creates an environment for his constituents that drives agriculture and manufacturing.”

“He said, ‘I am going to be your champion in the Senate,’” Intagliata says of Blunt.

Unico, Inc., based in Arnold, Missouri, manufacturers small duct high velocity (SDHV) heating and cooling systems. An ill-conceived energy efficiency rule from the Department of Energy mired Unico in a bureaucratic mess and, worse, hit their sales hard.

Essentially, the rule would have required Unico to jump through hoops that did not apply to their business model or their product in order to earn the “energy efficient” label. Without that label, Unico’s sales were hurting, and they were considering laying off some of their work force.

That’s when Roy Blunt stepped in, working to make permanent a waiver to keep Unico and businesses like them from being subject to unnecessary federal regulations.

Details: Department of Energy erroneously grouped SDHV heating and air conditioning systems with all air conditioners and heat pumps when establishing minimum energy efficiency standards. Because of its unique distribution system, SDHV is more energy efficient in terms of ‘delivered efficiency’ than traditional Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units, especially for older homes and buildings with no room for ducting, as well as new home construction.

Those DOE regulations only applied to the HVAC equipment. They did not give consideration to distribution systems such as SDHV. This oversight required Unico and others to operate under a waiver, and as a result, at a competitive disadvantage to systems that can be less efficient.

Legislation sponsored by Roy Blunt, the SDHV Energy Efficiency Standards for America Act, passed as part of HR 6582 and was signed into law on December 18, 2012.

# # #

Blunt Campaign Releases “Heather” Ad, Tells Story of Roy Blunt’s Work for Special Olympics

Blunt Campaign Releases “Heather” Ad,Tells Story of Roy Blunt’s Work for Special Olympics

Featuring Heather Cleek of Columbia and her son Thomas, age 16, “Heather” explains Roy Blunt’s unique support for the cause of Special Olympics, its athletes, and their families. Cleek says: “Senator Blunt has been involved with Special Olympics and its funding for more than a decade.”

“He embraces the athletes and their families,” Cleek says of Blunt.

Thomas Cleek and his family have been participating in the Special Olympics for about ten years. Thomas recently won the gold medal for golf at the USA Games.

Blunt regularly participates in the opening ceremonies of the Games across the state and, in particular, promotes the Healthy Athletes screenings made available through Special Olympics.

Blunt is the principal sponsor of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Act, which reauthorizes grants for classroom programs and activities designed to support schools and recreational programs that encourage acceptance and model including people with intellectual disabilities. In the House, Blunt introduced and guided to passage the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act, which initially authorized federal support for Special Olympics.

# # #

Blunt Campaign Releases “Promise of America” Ad

Blunt Campaign Releases “Promise of America” Ad:“Jason Kander and I have fundamentally different views on keeping that promise alive”

Standing in the gymnasium of the former Marshfield High School, Roy Blunt reminds Missourians that he was the first person in his family to graduate from high school, and his very first teaching job was at that school, where his grandfather had his last job as a janitor. Blunt says: “That’s the promise of America.”

Trial lawyer Jason Kander, a national chair of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, was raised in Kansas and attended private Bishop Miege High School in Kansas before receiving his undergraduate and law degrees at elite Washington, DC schools.

“Jason Kander and I have fundamentally different views on keeping that promise alive. He wants to expand ObamaCare, give amnesty to illegal immigrants, and raise energy taxes,” Roy Blunt says in the ad. “The Clinton-Kander agenda will continue to take us on the wrong track.”

(COLUMBIA, Mo.) — During Friday’s Missouri Press Association debate, Jason Kander continued his calculated race to the political middle, announcing that he would have supported the so-called “Gang of Eight Immigration Plan,” including amnesty and sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants.

“We need comprehensive immigration reform. Had I been in the Senate at the time, I would have supported the [S. 744 or “Gang of Eight”] bipartisan legislation…we desperately need comprehensive immigration reform and I would have supported that bipartisan effort [Gang of Eight bill].” — Jason Kander, September 30, 2016, Missouri Press Association Debate.

“Proving once again how out of touch he is with Missourians’ views and values, Jason Kander declared his unqualified support for amnesty for illegal immigrants,” said Tate O’Connor, press secretary. “The more Missourians hear about the candidates’ positions on the issues, the more trouble Jason Kander is going to be in. Secretary Kander is too liberal for Missouri, and every time he opens his mouth to talk about the issues, he just reminds us all over again.”